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Church & State

Around The World: Russia Considering Ban On Jehovah’s Witnesses

May2017AU Bulletin

In an effort to limit nontraditional Christian movements, the Russian government is attempting to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses by labeling them an “extremist” group.

In a claim filed on March 15, Russia’s Justice Ministry urged the country’s Supreme Court to liquidate the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ administrative offices in the country and label the church an “extremist” organization. The Justice Ministry argues that the group promotes material of “an extremist nature.”

The Witnesses are estimated to have 395 meeting houses in Russia.

If the Russian Supreme Court chooses to designate Jehovah’s Witness groups as terrorists, religious persecution is a threat that looms for approximately 175,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in that country.